to be terrified of what having dc3 at 33 is going to do to my body?

[dirtyface]

i am only 8+3 and feel terrible for feeling like this as i MCd a few months ago and i thought this pg was much wanted, but i am so down and depressed at the moment, just feel so fat and ugly. even though i have not gained any weight yet i feel bloated and feel i look awful, so tired and rough

i had my other dcs at 26 and 29 so they did not too too much damage, other than stretchmarks and a bit of a saggy belly

i am only 5 foot 2 and 8 stone 2. so i am terrified of getting too big during pg as i will just look massive being so short and the bigger i get i know it will be more likely my body will be ruined

have been looking into doing pregnancy pilates but i dont know whether to even bother as not convinced it will even help or whether this last pg is just going to ruin my looks and body for ever

i managed through sheer luck and will power to only gain about 15 - 17lbs with dc2. i did that by calorie counting every day and walking a lot and swimming twice a week. but i have felt so sick and hungry i have had no will power at all and i will never be that lucky this time round. i just think its hopeless and wont make any difference this time as i have heard that its easy to bounce back in your 20's but not in your 30's

i wish i had had all my dcs in my early 20's. as i always wanted 3. but wouldnt have been possible

i feel like dh will stop fancying me and leave me. i met him when dc1 was one and i was only 27 and stick thin and young and pretty. he says he fancies me and loves me loads but i hate myself so cant believe him :(

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

You have issues.

I had both my babies in my 30s. Never felt so good about my body.

If your self esteem is all about how you look then at point you are going to be very unhappy.

[dirtyface]

i wish that i could be like that alibaba

do you mind me asking, how do you feel so good about your body? is it that you have exercised, dieted etc and got back into shape or is it because you are just generally body confident and don't care if you are not perfect? (dont want to offend you as i am sure you look lovely!!)

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I don't care. My husband loves me, and my boobs that have breastfed for 4 years, my crepy overhang from two c-sections and all the rest of it. I'm a size 16.

My body grew two children, nourished them entirely from conception until they were 6 months old (BF). That is not a small achievement.

This is all about how you feel about yourself, and nothing to do with the way you look.

[Cuddlydragon]

I'm sorry you feel like this OP. I really hope you manage to speak to your midwife. I put on a lot of weight with my DS and a year on still have a bit to lose but I don't feel like you do. I loved being pregnant and I adored my bump. I also didn't give a toss about it afterwards either. On a bad day I do wish I had been careful but most days I feel great. I've been a size 10 and a size 18 since I've been with my husband though and it's never been an issue, why would it be, I still think I'm attractive. I think how you feel is key and I hope you are supported in helping you believe that you are the attractive sexy amazing woman you are, regardless of weight. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

[SugarHut]

Right-o...this is not going to be particularly pc, but I shall tell it how it is. You may get fucking enormously fat. You may get morning sickness to the extent you barely gain anything. Your body may pleasantly surprise you, or it may make you want to cry. Yes, eat sensibly if you can...if your hormone enraged body means nothing but pie for 9 months, so be it. It's (probably, according to you) your last pregnancy...bloody enjoy it. This is the last time you get to feel a little foot having a kick inside you, the last time you get to feel it have the hiccups. And if you look like shite afterwards, then diet, or even have surgery. Never underestimate the effect of freshly painted nails and a good haircut...doesn't matter whether you are chunky or skinny, you can look glamorous regardless.

I have 1 boy, my body was very kind to me, but my boobs were a joke after breastfeeding. They were fine tbh, but to me I hated them...so I had a boob job. You can ALWAYS fix what you don't like. Gym, diet, surgery. So enjoy your pregnancy, be proud that your body has given you beautiful children. Post birth, see what hand mother nature has dealt you, then decide if/how to tackle it, for all you know, you're fretting about nothing.

If you're feeling too sick to do anything right now, fair enough. If not, phone your local salon, now, and book in for something little. Facial, eyebrow shape, nails....you say you feel you look awful...so change that feeling.

And congratulations on the pregnancy :)

[Rosesarebeautiful]

I've had 4 kids and two miscarriages. I'm size 10 normally, but in pregnancy was huge! (Lots of ignorant comments about being 'size of a house'). I didn't overeat - but I did go with what my body wanted/ needed and my stomach muscles aren't great - so I did get big.

I've lost more or less all the weight since. I do think you put on a little with life- so I'm not looking to be the same weight as in my 20s. I do more exercise now- so a bit more fit too.

My husband likes slim women, but he's never had a problem with me in pregnancy. He also recognises the difference between a healthy slim person and an underweight too skinny one.

Please talk to someone in real life. You should be enjoying this stage. I hate to see a skinny pregnant woman- we're nurturing our own bodies and a new one too. Not competing to deny ourselves.

If I was pregnant again (please, no) I would eat well and exercise a bit.

Please talk to someone, and please start to enjoy your pregnancy.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

I am the same age and 21 weeks pregnant with dc3, I too have had two CS previously and this one will likely be CS too.

Yes I am a bit saggier in the boobs due to breastfeeding both kids to nearly 2. Yes I am a 12 instead of a 10 (hips wider, but not much fatter or heavier), but I have raised two beautiful kids and given their immune systems a great start.

I am eating healthy, little and often (close to Brewer Diet). I am doing Pilates and also I found some pregnancy exercise videos online here which are great. Walking everywhere and chasing after my toddler keeps me active. You do not need to become the size of a house, but neither should you deny your body and your baby the nutrition you both need.

I think you need to talk to your midwife or GP and get referred for some counselling for your self-esteem and body issues. Your DH clearly loves you and so do your kids, for who you are. Now you just need to love yourself.

[stopgap]

I think you sound rather anxious. Do you always feel on the insecure side or do you think this could be prenatal depression?

I was 34 when I had my first, and now I'm 36 and 22 weeks along with my second. Honestly, I got no stretchmarks with my first (I'm 5'7 and 8.5 stone and put on two stone) and my stomach muscles returned to normal within a few months, thanks to prenatal and postnatal pilates. I can't imagine this experience will be radically different, as I'm an active, sporty person.

Try to see pregnancy as a way to indulge yourself a bit, if not with your favourite foods, then with a pampering bath or prenatal massage.

[AveryJessup]

If you bounced back from your other pregnancies, why assume you won't this time? 33 is not old. I was 33 having my DS and was back in my pre-pregnancy clothes in no time, had no stretch marks and no weight gain once I was fit enough to get out and about again. Every pregnancy is different of course but I don't know why you think age is the deciding factor.

[Rosesarebeautiful]

Wish I hadn't said the 'side of house' comment now. Not helpful. That was people being rude and insensitive to me. In laws - need I say more
I only gained 2.5st with each pregnancy - but my bumps were big & not helped by the maternity wear at that time

I was wondering if thinking about your clothes would help- it is important still to feel attractive. I think the fashions have improved. Someone else mentioned beauty treatments.

Look after yourself & please enjoy this pregnancy.

[Wannabestepfordwife]

Op congratulations on your pregnancy!

I can understand how you feel whenever I'm anxious or down I concentrate on my physical appearance it's a control thing. I think you need to talk to your mw you sound like you might have a bit of pre natal depression, I had it without realising it exsisted so I never really enjoyed my pregnancy.

I would say how your body reacts to pregnancy has more to do with body type than age so I would expect it will react similar to your previous pregnancies.

With regards to your dh's ex, dp's exs are all 5ft10 size 10 blondes I'm 5ft4 and brunette I might feel a bit jealous at times but at the end of the day they are exs and I'm the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with the same with your dh.

[dirtyface]

thanks for the messages ladies x

i guess i just feel that if i don't look good then dh won't love me any more. stupid i know, because in life we all get old, everyones looks fade, we all gain weight etc. and i know that i would love him no matter what he looked like.

i definitely suffer from anxiety / insecurity / depression ...in fact before i got pg i was on citalopram for anxiety / depression but was advised to stop it when i fell pg. but i am on the waiting list for counselling (again) and have my first appt in october

i chickened out of contacting my MW yesterday